Cars We Remember: Marty Demmer’s fabulous 1952 MG-TD Mark II is an all original classic

Greg Zyla More Content Now

Monday

Aug 21, 2017 at 10:56 AMAug 21, 2017 at 10:56 AM

Q: Dear Greg, my name is Martha Demmer from Montrose, Pennsylvania. I am 77-years-old and everyone here calls me Marty. On May 16, 1964, I bought a 1952 MG-TD-MKII that was said to be one of only 1,800 made in England. Approximately 900 were exported out of England, and I purchased this vehicle for $695 plus tax and title for a grand total of $732.75.

My MG has been garaged and kept out of the weather and is only driven during the summer and on fair weather days. I am still driving the vehicle for a total of 53 years and counting. It now runs on ethanol free gas with a lead additive and is in all-original condition with some replacement parts and some custom work on the dash.

I know my MG is truly special and a welcome sight when I drive it around my community. I see your column in the newspaper where you describe welcoming reader input on collector cars. I would love to talk to you about my MG that is now 65-years-old. I hope to hear from you. Thanks Greg.— Martha “Marty” Demmer, Montrose, Pennsylvania

A: Well Marty, first off thank you for your wonderful letter and follow up email from your friend and photographer, Rebecca Severcool. I’ll let my readers know I’ve had several good phone conversations with Marty, and I can tell you all that her MG is a very special, near 100-percent original version.

Currently, an MG-TD MKII in all original shape is worth some serious money. The NADA Classic Car price guide lists Marty’s MG-TD MK II, which originally cost $2,360, with a low retail of $17,900, average retail of $29,400 and a high retail of $37,500.

From the photos I received, I’d say Marty’s MG-TD is probably in the $25,000 range as it is a well-maintained original roadster. Since it is near 100-percent original, and needs just some exterior paint re-conditioning and chroming, it would perhaps even fetch more to a true MG collector.

Hagerty, the noted collector car insurance company, lists a perfect (concours quality) 1952 MG-TD at $43,500. Hagerty defines “concours” as the best vehicle in the right colors, perfectly clean, groomed down to the tire treads. The car’s painted and chromed surfaces are mirror-like and dust and dirt are banned. The materials used are correct and superbly fitted and the one word description for “No.1” vehicles is “concours.”

Power for Marty’s MG-TD comes from a 1250 cc 4-cylinder engine with two one-barrel carburetors that puts out just 54 horsepower. History points to MG (which stands for Morris Garage) offered a TC roadster in the states in the 1940 decade that sold fairly well even considering it was a right-hand drive English sports car. Then in 1950, MG technicians took a 1949 Y-Type MG Touring model, cut five inches from the chassis and the MG-TD roadster was born with correct American left hand drive appointments.

Since the MG-TD now attracted more enthusiasts with the proper USA left hand steering, more MG sales took place. But as Marty notes in her letter, only 1,800 were made in 1952 and just 900 were exported, making her MG-TD MKII all the more rare. Notable is that MG offered 15-inch steel disc wheels which were standard in 1952. No wire wheels were offered until the MGA came about years later.

The best part of this column is how active 77-year-old Marty Demmer is with her MG. She relies on navigator (co-driver) Celese Castrogiovanni (pictured) whenever she takes her little beauty out for a spin and is seen regularly during the warm months enjoying her MG in either top down or top up flare.

My personal best wishes go out to Marty, her photographer Rebecca and co-driver Celese who all made this fun “Cars We Remember” possible. God bless you Marty and here’s for many more miles ahead in your 1952 MG-TD MKII.

— Greg Zyla writes weekly for More Content Now and other GateHouse Media publications. He welcomes reader questions at greg@gregzyla.com.

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